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An icon believed to be responsible for healing people of cancer and blindness will be making two stops in Northeast Pennsylvania this weekend.

The Iveron Icon of the Theotokos will be at St. Tikhon of Zadonsk Orthodox Monastery in South Canaan on Saturday, and at St. John the Baptist Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Mayfield on Sunday.

"We'll be able to have this great blessing with us," said the Rev. John D. Sorochka of St. John's. "Let's flock to it. Let it uplift us."

The icon of Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus is a paper print mounted on wood, and is an exact replica of a famous icon from Montreal. The replica was manufactured in Russia and purchased in Toronto by a priest who gave it to a Russian Orthodox believer in Honolulu in 2007.

Believers say the icon streams myrrh, a fragrant resin that comes from certain trees in the Mideast, from the Virgin Mary's eyes. It also gives off the scent of roses, believers say.

In 2008, the icon was recognized by Archbishop Kyrill of the Russian Orthodox Church as genuine and given the blessing to travel to churches of Holy Orthodoxy.

The icon's visit to St. Tikhon is part of its 106th annual pilgrimage, which is expected to attract more than 1,000 people, said the Rev. Igumen Sergius, abbot of St. Tikhon.

"People come seeking a blessing from God," Rev. Sergius said. "We all have a need for healing for our souls. They might not even know what they need, but they know there's something else in this world."

Contact the writer: shofius@timesshamrock.com

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22 posted comments

I believe that we we have to learn that no icon can heal, but it is the power of Jesus christ through the holy Spirit that heals. Jesus Christ is the great healer and we have to stop calling people and things great and know that Jesus Christ is the only healer. While there are many beautiful people of God and many beautiful religios statues, it is Jesus and Jesus only that produces the healing. He is the the one and only one responsible for healing

As long as we are worshiping the Creator and not the creation - it's important to know the difference. If you believe that you can be healed by touching something, you are being deceived. God's glory is seen in the mountains, the oceans, in all His creation, where He is continually revealing Himself to us, but they don't have any healing powers. It's through our faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, and belief in His death and resurrection that we are healed. Jesus' last words on the cross were "It is finished". The work is done, we just have to believe!! Peace.

2 Kings 13:21 "when the dead man came in contact w/ the bones of Elisha, he came back to life and rose to his feet"Acts 19: 11-12 "when face cloths or aprons that touched his skin were applied to the sick, their diseases left them"

Do you have a picture of a loved on in your home or office? Maybe a picture of your family in your wallet? Why do you keep it on the table ot the mantel? Do you worship it? Meg is 100% correct. No icon, image, preacher, faith healer, or laying-on of hands can heal anyone. Unless the one who is praying for the healing believes that the icon, image, preacher, faith healer, or other minister of healing can actually be a channel for the healing energy or power from the Higher Power. The Mayo Clinic can't heal squat if the patient doesn't believe it can. ghth7, check your Webster's to see the difference between prayer and veneration. human, is there any harm in seeing a doctor and the icon, too? Tom, read all of Isaih before you do a Sarah Palin and "cherry-pick" verses. They may not be 100% in context.

It is through our Faith in Christ that we are healed, of course. But we need visuals to remind us of him. Jesus is the face of the invisible God. Whoever sees Jesus face sees God. Very similar to the bronze serpent in Exodus, we see the image because of who it represents. We DO NOT WORSHIP the image. That is idolatry. There is a difference. The image is, in itself NOT God, but rather a reminder. An aid to see something that can not be seen!

A person can't get healed through any relic treating it similarly like one would a "magic lamp" that you rub and you're miraculously healed. NO! - God is our healer!!! He heals through our FAITH in Jesus Christ! It's not what relics we touch, what jewelry we wear around our necks, what "holy" things we have in our homes. It's all about what we believe - God sees our hearts. In the Gospels when someone was healed from anything, Jesus always told them that it was their faith that healed them. Put your faith and hope in Jesus Christ and Him alone. God wants to heal you spiritually, emotionally, and physically. He loves you so much! I pray that God will open your hearts. Ask Him to show you the truth.